Clovers 4-H Club places 4th in 'perfect cow' photo contest

The Progressive Clovers 4-H Club placed fourth in its division in a national dairy cow photo judging contest sponsored by a Wisconsin-based magazine.

The contest drew 61,177 individual entries and 1,047 club entries this year, said Carol Peterson of Hoard's Dairyman, an industry magazine in Fort Atkinson, Wis.

The educational contest is in its 62nd year. Participants judge 20 photos of five dairy cow breeds, comparing the build of each to that of a "perfect" cow.

Progressive Clovers leader Sylvia Miller said club members have participated in the contest for about five years, but this is the first time they've placed near the top.

The club competed in the 4-H club division. A Frederick County club placed second in the division, Peterson said.

Wisconsin 4-H clubs took first and third place, she said.

Entries came from 49 states, the District of Columbia and 20 foreign countries.

The Progressive Clovers won $25 and a plaque.

Club member Amy Miller, 12, of Taneytown said she and other members had studied up on dairy cows for county dairy judging competitions. In the competitions, 4-H'ers judge a cow's build and udder.

"We were happy to win," she said.

Club members judged the photos at their March 9 meeting, Sylvia Miller said.

Other club members who participated were: Amy, Matt and Mark Devilbiss, David Miller, Josh Sanders, Eric Wantz and Mary Ellen and Erin Seraydian, all of Taneytown; Dustin Derr of Mount Airy; and Missy Starner of Westminster.

Gary Derr, Dustin's father and a dairy farmer, helped club members prepare for the contest.

The prize money has been deposited in the club's treasury for future projects, the leader said. The club has 44 members.